Preservation (library and archive)

Preservation in the context of libraries and archives encompasses all managerial, financial, and technical considerations employed to ensure that documentary heritage is safeguarded for use by current and future generations. It is a broad field involving a range of activities designed to retard deterioration and prevent damage to cultural property, extending the lifespan of materials and ensuring their continued accessibility.

Preservation activities can be broadly categorized into several key areas:

• Preventive Preservation: This is the first line of defense and focuses on creating a stable environment to minimize deterioration. It includes measures such as controlling temperature, humidity, light exposure, and pollutants; implementing integrated pest management strategies; and ensuring proper storage conditions. Preventive preservation aims to address the underlying causes of decay before damage occurs.

• Conservation Treatment: This involves direct intervention on damaged or deteriorated items to stabilize them, repair them, and improve their condition. Conservation treatments are typically performed by trained conservators and may include cleaning, mending, deacidification, encapsulation, and rebinding. Conservation aims to stabilize and repair damaged items while respecting their original form and historical significance.

• Reformatting: This involves transferring the intellectual content of an item from one format to another to preserve it. Common reformatting methods include microfilming, digitization, and creation of surrogates. Reformatting is often used when the original item is too fragile to handle or when access needs to be expanded.

• Disaster Preparedness and Recovery: This involves planning for and responding to emergencies such as fires, floods, and earthquakes. Disaster preparedness includes developing emergency response plans, training staff, and identifying resources for recovery. Disaster recovery involves salvaging damaged materials, stabilizing the environment, and restoring collections to usable condition.

• Preservation Education and Outreach: This involves raising awareness about the importance of preservation and educating staff, patrons, and the public about how to handle and care for cultural property. Education and outreach efforts can include workshops, presentations, publications, and online resources.

Preservation is a collaborative effort involving librarians, archivists, conservators, curators, and other professionals. It requires a long-term commitment and a holistic approach to ensure the survival of documentary heritage for future generations. The goal of preservation is not simply to keep materials from deteriorating but also to ensure that they remain accessible and usable for research, education, and cultural enrichment.